Aunt says body found in landfill believed to be that of missing boy

A Village of Mount Gilead truck driver is stopped by authorities on Tuesday at the Crawford County Solid Waste Management District and Recycling Center grounds as law enforcement agencies conduct a search.(Photo: Jason J. Molyet/Telegraph-Forum)Buy Photo

BUCYRUS - A body was recovered Tuesday afternoon in the Crawford County Landfill, the county's sheriff said.

"We did find the body, but we haven’t confirmed an identity," Crawford County Sheriff Scott Kent said.

Grant Hope, deputy coroner for the county, labeled the body as a "John Doe," Kent said.

According to the website of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Skylar Bentley, 14, has been missing from his home in Mount Gilead since Sunday.

Tammy Kiss, who identified herself as Skylar's aunt, said Mount Gilead police officers told the family the missing teen was seen on a surveillance video jumping into a dumpster in early morning hours, but was not seen climbing out before it was collected by a trash truck later that morning.

The family was notified by Mount Gilead police at 6 p.m. Tuesday that a body believed to be Skylar's had been found in the landfill.

"They said there were no marks on his body, so they're not sure how he passed yet," she said. "He had never run away from home before. He was a good kid."

Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies — including the Crawford and Morrow county sheriff's offices, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and the Galion Police Department — searched the landfill throughout the day Tuesday, .

A Village of Mount Gilead trash truck was at the scene. According to Mount Gilead's website, the community provides trash collection services within the village.

“We are assisting and cooperating as much as we can,” said Jonathan Kissell, a public relations officer with Rumpke, which earlier this month retained a lease to manage the landfill, about 4 miles east of Bucyrus on Ohio 330.

Kissel said Sheriff Kent and BCI officers arrived there early Tuesday morning.

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A Village of Mount Gilead trash removal truck is driven at the Crawford County Solid Waste Management District and Recycling Center grounds Tuesday afternoon as law enforcement agencies conduct a search.(Photo: Jason J. Molyet/Telegraph-Forum)

According to a press release from Rumpke, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office contacted Rumpke, requesting to search the landfill, and the company immediately granted access. According to the press release, the body was found at around 4:45 p.m.

“This is a sad and tragic day,” said Randy Broadright, Rumpke safety manager. “Our thoughts and prayers are with anyone touched by this tragedy. We appreciate the dedication and commitment of all law enforcement involved in the search.”

The scene was cleared by 6:45 p.m., Rumpke reported.

Jenny Vermillion, president of the Crawford County board of commissioners, sent out a press release early Tuesday evening.

"It is with heavy hearts that the board of commissioners for Crawford County ask for prayers for Ms. Stubbs and the family and friends of her son, Skylar, during this unexpected tragedy," Vermillion wrote.